Joining together to mark the 30th World AIDS Day

This year is the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day and the Alliance is marking it by taking part in the UK ENDAIDS2030 Festival, a week of events to raise public awareness of HIV and uniting the domestic and international HIV sectors in the goal of ending AIDS by 2030.

The Alliance will focus on the challenges facing people from marginalised communities to ‘Know your status’, the theme set by UNAIDS, and the ongoing barriers to receiving essential treatment. As World AIDS Day falls during the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, there will also be stories, videos and resources that address the link between gender-based violence and HIV in regions across the world including the Middle East and North Africa. The Alliance is also co-ordinating two special events to mark the Festival.

UK Parliament event to discuss quality of life for people living with HIV

On 28 November, the Alliance will jointly host a UK Parliamentary reception with STOPAIDS and the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS (APPG). The event will feature a panel of high-level experts, including Alistair Burt MP – Minister for Africa at the Department for International Development (DfID) and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO); Festus Mogae – former President of Botswana and Chairman of the Champions for an AIDS Free Generation; Audrey Nosenga –from ZY+ and READY to Lead peer mentor; and Stephen Doughty, chair of the APPG on HIV/AIDS. They will speak on the topic of improving the quality of life for people living with HIV.

During the event, the Alliance will share a recently published briefing paper on Quality of Life and the vital support needed for people living with HIV beyond viral suppression, the last goal in UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 targets. The paper outlines key considerations for a long-term comprehensive package of care for people living with HIV that is person-centred and responsive to individual needs. The paper also emphasises the critical role of addressing non-HIV specific physical and mental conditions such as diabetes, cardio-vascular disease and cancer.

READ THE QUALITY OF LIFE PAPER

‘In or own words’ photography exhibition

The Alliance’s Festival support continues with an exhibition of photographs from young advocates in our PITCH programme in Myanmar, Nigeria and Uganda. ‘In our own words’ explores the challenges to access lifesaving HIV testing or treatment services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who use drugs, and adolescent girls and young women, often as a result of discrimination and criminalisation. The exhibition will be held at Jubilee Library, Brighton, UK from 26 November – 2 December.

ENDADS2030 Festival runs from 26 November – 3 December and will unite UK and international HIV-AIDS organisations, and all those passionate about ending AIDS through a series of awareness raising policy, fundraising, sports, music and arts events.